other things i’ve been doing
About three or four weeks ago, I went to my new Primary Care Physician (or PCP, as I like to say because it’s funny) and talked to her a bit about some things that had been bothering me for quite some time:
- Difficulty paying attention to details when they’re involved in something I’m not 100% into doing;
- Easily distracted by small things or thoughts that pertain nothing to the task/situation at hand;
- Procrastinating to the point of being late all the time to absolutely everything;
- Constant fidgeting and complete inability to sit still for more than ten minutes at a time;
- Excessive talking when someone else is talking or when it’s not appropriate to talk just to hear myself say words.
- (I didn’t tell my doctor about various other bad habits I have including one or more of the following (petty theft, mild vandalism, and/or saying inappropriate things a bit louder than I should in public locations.)
She suggested I see a therapist and I said sure. And then I did that and it was possibly the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life, no lie at all. She immediately threw out the ADHD diagnosis, which came to no surprise. (Go ahead and say what you will about it being some fictitious diagnosis that’s only came about when kids starts eating more chemical and additives, but when it fucks with your daily life – trust me, it’s some real shit that goes beyond being disorganized and attracted/distracted by all things shiny.)
I’ve been to see Dr. Therapist Lady (I’m not telling you her real name, because while her last name, well, rocks, it’s super easy for you to Google and I don’t feel like some crazies finding my therapist. Yep, I’m paranoid all of a sudden.) three times now and they’ve all been pretty fantastic. I, unfortunately, don’t know if my health insurance covers therapy, and if they don’t, I’m going to be so overly sad. I look forward to it every week and I feel a sense of adreneline and cleansing when I leave her office. And, until I figure out some way to do that on my own (which we’re working on in therapy, mind you!) and build up some tools on focus and accomplishing the things I need to do without panicking at the last minute or only doing it half-assed, I really feel like I need to keep seeing Dr. Therapist Lady. It’s some good shit.
Especially last week when I had to tell her all about how we got the Wii and I’m using it for “self-nurturing” purposes. She kept taking notes on it! The whole time I kept thinking, “Are you serious, lady? You’ve not heard of the Wii??” but then I tought she was probably testing me. So, now she probably just thinks I’m a crazy retard that’s obsessed with video games. Either way, right?
(And, ugh, we’re starting our Water Challenge again tomorrow, because we failed miserably last time!)




April 7th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I was given the ADHD label a few months ago and the efforts I’ve made to fix the problem have helped So Much! I am a happier person, my employer is getting better work out of me and my personal relationships are easier. Everyone wins!
April 7th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Seeing as how I was diagnosed at 18, and how my son will probably end up with the same diagnosis, I don’t think it’s something that’s just some pansy ass excuse. I’ve had to work extra hard because of it. It’s an absolute brain disorder. I’ve struggled my entire life, and you should see the method in which I clean my house. It drives people crazy.
That said, cutting out dyes and preservatives will help. It’s not the magic fix all, by any means, but it will help. I notice it in me and I notice it in the Mini too. The very few times artificial colors have slipped past his lips has been major fucking hell. Preservatives aren’t as bad, but we do avoid them as much as we can. Of course it’s easier with a small child, because he’s never really had those things to begin with. He doesn’t know any difference between the lame sundrops and real “poisonous” m&m’s. He just likes that he occasionally gets candy. It’s a little bit more of an adjustment when you’re an adult with established eating patterns.
Also, DHA (plain old fish oil) will help too if you didn’t want to take the medication route. Some people like better living through science.